Travis Wood to start for ill Matt Garza on Sunday
BY TONI GINNETTI tginnetti@suntimes.com May 5, 2012 9:22PM
Shortstop Starlin Castro commits an error on a ground ball hit by Andre Ethier in the fifth inning. | Brian Kersey~AP
Updated: June 7, 2012 8:29AM
Illness is taking a toll in the Cubs’ clubhouse, with starter Matt Garza scratched from his start Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers and infielder Jeff Baker ailing.
Left-hander Travis Wood will fill in for Garza. Manager Dale Sveum said the team would make a roster move Sunday to make room for Wood, who was summoned from Class AAA Iowa on Saturday when it appeared likely that Garza wouldn’t recover in time.
But Sveum said Garza would be slotted to start Friday in Milwaukee when the Cubs open a five-game road trip.
Wood, who was acquired in the trade that sent lefty Sean Marshall to the Cincinnati Reds, was 1-3 with a 5.08 ERA at Iowa but said he has pitched better of late.
‘‘Unfortunately [Garza] isn’t feeling well, but hopefully I can give them a strong outing and give us a chance to win,’’ said Wood, who was 11-10 in parts of the last two seasons with the Reds. ‘‘It’s a big game because if we win, we take the series.’’
Garza was scheduled to work Saturday but was pushed back a day because he was ill Friday.
Baker was worse than Garza on Saturday. He received IV fluids at a local hospital for dehydration.
‘‘[The virus] started with Scott Maine in Philadelphia,’’ Sveum said.
Pitching in
Rookie right-hander Lendy Castillo had appeared in only five games and pitched fewer than six innings before Saturday. His last appearance was April 20, when he worked one inning against the Reds, giving up a run, a hit and two walks.
He worked two scoreless innings Saturday, giving up one hit with one strikeout.
Sveum said game situations have dictated Castillo’s idle time more than anything. Castillo has been slotted as a middle reliever.
‘‘You have plans [on using relievers], but we’ve played a lot of close games and it’s tough,’’ Sveum said. ‘‘The starters have been going deep or games have been close, so it’s been tough to get him in. But his day is coming.’’
Castillo was a Rule 5 minor-league draft pick from the Philadelphia Phillies’ organization, so he can’t be sent to the minors.
The Cubs’ ‘‘other’’ Castillo, catcher Welington Castillo, is expected to make his third start today since being recalled from Iowa last week for the injured Steve Clevenger (strained right oblique).
‘‘[Geovany Soto] has been playing well, and everything seems to be clicking now,’’ said Sveum, who will give Soto the day off.
Boss is watching
Chicagoan Mark Walter, head of the Guggenheim Partners financial-services firm who led the $2 billion purchase of the Dodgers, has been watching the weekend series at Wrigley Field. Walter led a group of investors that includes former basketball great Magic Johnson.
